Twenty Years Of Marriage. Romance. Testing Out Waterless Shampoo

 

About forty years ago, I began discovering the challenges of hygiene and physical accessibility. Times

like when I was recovering from a broken leg or spine surgeries, staying at my parents home (unable to freely access a bath tub or shower), or even if I went away where access to easy bathing methods were a challenge. I even tried getting hair permanents (curling hair with rollers and a chemical solution wreaking of ammonia) that dries out your hair, even burning some off. Resulting in hopeful curls or waves, trying to delay that oily greasy hair thing. 

If you've ever been recovering from surgery, illness or live with a physical challenge like I have since childhood, then you know what I am talking about. In fact when you are in the hospital, you may also have experienced sponge or bed baths. What's that you ask? It means a nurse sets a bowl of warm water
by your bedside with a washcloth (not usually a  sponge), bar of soap and towel in hand. I remember it happening daily. Depending how long I was to be laid up for, my hair was never washed in bed, so no matter how clean I may have felt after, the greasy hair feeling increased daily. Back then I never heard of dry or waterless shampoos (which is what this video is about). You know how icky your head and body can feel when you can bath. Hard to believe that in the middle ages bathing was apparently annually if it all! 

Watch Video Here

People don't talk about this much so I want to share ideas, reviews and offer what I can to help anyone with mobility issues that want to know ways of feeling clean even when you can't access the shower. Today I want to share a video Craig and I made last year, that I totally forgot about, testing out something called waterless shampoo. Watch to see if it was successful or not.

Vlog: Under Quarantine . Campout Series - Sleeping In My Wheelchair, = Watching The Sun Rise

Hello World! Hope everyone is staying safe and taking protection seriously no matter how melancholy self quarantining can be. (For me, this is life as usual because I am an artist who loves working at home- but I have emphathized with the world, when we don't have a choice anymore. That's when I feel the

sadness and temptation to slip into self pity and the fear of getting the virus)  

Something that is new to us also, spurred on because of  this worldwide covid shift, yet,would have happened any way, to serve another purpose. When needed and even by choice, I can actually enjoy sleeping in my power tilt wheelchair. 

We have vlog/videos that we will be sharing over time. Today, I wanted to share the cool opportnity to go outside at 430am to start watching the sunrise. Due to being in bed, requiring a Personal Care Attendant, and needing to schedule key parts of my life, I do't get to do these kinds of things on a whim. Something that is just part of my life. But being pressed into trying our campout idea, I have discovered great freedom. Even if just once a week, it's so awesome to have that freedom. Yes bed is more comfy, but the trade off is worth it! We even got to go for a star gazing (too much light pollution) walk at 1am! I love it!

 

To see part one of my early morning sunrise watching adventure there's the v. But first....

Social Distancing Isn't New To Mary and Peter.....

It has definitely been a challenging time over these past months. Unprecedented times. We can all relate to each other to a big degree. The entire world faces self isolation to help stop the spread of Covid-19. . Some countries won't let you leave your home at all. Then there is our realm, we are not to have gatherings of more than five, six feet a part. Ever watch the movie "Five Feet Apart"? Interesting all this happens world wide and this pretty good movie, about how persons living with Cystic Fibrosis can't be physically closer than five feet away from each other. Social distancing for patients with CF, is something they were very familiar with. I don't pretend to know everything but I do know, thanks to a favourite YT Channel called "Frey Life." I highly recommend meeting this amazing couple, Peter and Mary Frey. They share their very real life. As a young married couple living in America. Mary bravely lives life to the fullest with cystic fibrosis and her beloved husband Peter serves God as a Pastor, supportive husband. These guys know how to enjoy life no matter what obstacles arise. Take a look at Mary's art work, they also have a website. When you have cystic fibrosis, you are more susceptible to catching illnesses/infections from fellow cf patients. My disability is also something you are born with, as is cystic fibrosis. But, I can catch illnesses from anyone equally. 

Why CF patients are unable to be physically close to each other is  beyond my understanding 

If you want to be encouraged and learn about real marriage and life with CF, 

Frey Life - Watch:

Campout Sunrise Vlog Video part 1: with 

Campout Sunrise Vlog Video part 2: Anita 

Worlds Collide: A Bergie Creation: Inside My Studio, Inside My Heart...

Since all of my blogs are able to collide and work together, I am sharing the link to a new post that I just recently shared about where physical health and being an artist impact each other. Take a peek click the header below....

A Bergie Creation: Inside My Studio, Inside My Heart...: Been A While Some metal foil with polymer clay beads Hi everyone! Sorry it has been a while since connecting or listing any new jewell...

Craig using this sweet teaching tool created by one of our brightest, and best nursing students
ever- my mini hoyer lift canvas/sling with little Nicole

Back when I use to paint!

So excited the day I received a gift from my favourite polymer clay artist Christi Friesen

my husband starts a new painting follow him at  www.Heartfullycreating.blogspot.com

From My HeArtfully Creating Blog/Vlog: A Balmy Adventure

When I am not trying to work on wheelchair repairs and all the communication that can go with that, I am creating, blogging and making videos for those articles. Just wanted to share my newest

Me, when I painted after I thought I couldn't anymore!

article on my creativity blog called HeArtfully Creating. As an artist, it is what I have always known. To not create, leaves me feel out of sorts. I know I talked about this before, but even when you live with a muscle wasting disorder/disability like I have or any other type that suddenly or slowly result in you physical abilities changing. It doesn't mean you can not do what you love to do. I know for me, there are definitely things I would love to do that I just have to accept that I can't. Doesn't mean, I have to lay around staring at a screen all day, there is always some how, some way to do something you love. So I focus on what I can

Cruising on my own legs, sort of.

do. If you aren't familiar with the disability I was born with, it is called Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 3.

I won't go into detail here, but I am now almost 50 years old, yay! It is an exciting

Grade 4, I used a wheelchair as needed.

milestone that I look forward to. These days, my hands are  the only part of my body, aside from my mind, and mouth (darn, say my family members, ha ha) are the remaining abilities I have. Which means, with my husband's assistance, I am able to work on creating, such as in this instance, my own Lip Balm and solid perfume. 

Yes,  I know a DIY doesn't necessarily fit into the purpose of the

Emily being my "arms" to assist me.

Walking. Way Overrated blog intent, I wanted to explain why sharing this part of me does fit in here. I want to encourage others who may believe that because their arms, legs, hands, body in general, don't function or cooperate, it doesn't mean you can't do what you love. If you love creating in any way shape or form, there always is a way you can. Daily, I depend on others to be my "arms

Without others, going to and get out of bed would not be possible.

and legs," without them, I wouldn't be sitting up in my chair writing this blog, creating what I create. 
You would be amazed at the many times, I believe God has provided me either direct into my mind, or through the advice of others, ways to problem solve how I would be able to do something I thought I couldn't do anymore. So pray, ask for help, always. Life for me, wouldn't exist as glorious as it is, a part from Christ. I did it without Him, and never would have survived if I continued living that way. You got nothing to lose!
Be encouraged with this creative, fun diversion.
I did it, I tried...reusing EOS containers but for me...well, take look...

HeArtfully Creating: A Balmy Adventure: Alright, I did it. I did make the DIY lip balm and since the base is the same, as a bonus, I also made some solid perfumes. It all starte...

EXPRESS YOURSELF NO MATTER WHAT - OVERCOMING PHYSICAL CHALLENGES

Ever since I can remember, I have been making art, creating in what ever way I want. Mostly in two dimensions, painting and drawing.  . As my hands weaken, I am always adapting new ways to create. Recently, I just learned how to work with my hands using polymer clay. Never thought it would be possible, especially since my hands are at their weakest so far. I decided to make a short video encouraging anyone out there who may have had their physical abilities change their artistic life. I am here to tell you don't give  up! 

Click video below to watch!

A Coloured Pencil Drawing by Anita Berglund

If you are creative and think you can't create because of your physical situation. I am here to tell you that there is always some way to express yourself creatively. It helps that I was born with my disorder, Spinal muscular atrophy, so it has progressed slowly, leaving me time to adapt as my abilities change.
Check Out a video short on what is new this week at A Bergie Creation (July 13th 2015) My Online Easy Shop that features my handmade jewelry. If you like, please feel free to pass the link along, it helps me out a lot!

Pasta Making, My Way...

Pasta Dreams
As far back as I can remember, I have been a lover of pasta. No Italian heritage required to be love pasta. My main source, the packaged kind. Even when my arms were stronger I never thought I could make fresh home made pasta. Thanks to the internet and the countless number of tutorials on ever subject under the sun, the inspiration to try making it hit me hard. At first I tried making gnocchi, something else I never thought possible. Gnocchi may be Italian, but it isn't exactly pasta. I believe it is referred to as a dumpling. Usually made with potatoes, flour and egg, it requires something I am not able to do, knead. Turns out it doesn't require as much kneading as I thought. Since I can't knead the traditional way, it was really exciting for me to figure out how to cause the gnocchi dough to be useable, even eatable. It took a couple of tries to master the texture and method, but it happened. Gnocchi is no longer something I can only buy in the grocery store or at Italfest!

As I continued watching pasta tutorials, it was time to go all out and make pasta. With my semolina in hand, I settles on one of a bazillion recipes for pasta. There are recipes with a heap of eggs, some with a couple, some with just water and/or oil…some with one hundred percent semolina, some fifty fifty, mixed with all purpose flour, some with just all purpose flour…some have oil, some do not. Needless to say, finding one recipe wasn't easy. Remember pin the tail on the donkey? Well, spin yourself around with a blind fold and point, where ever your finger points, follow that recipe. Okay, didn't quite do it that way, but I chose one recipe and started my pasta making adventure. It took a total of about five hours to make enough for one meal for Craig and I, but it worked! Since my hands and arms don't have much strength, as you will see in the video below, my first attempt was making the hand formed pasta called "Little Ears" in English. Was it perfect? No, it was edible. It was dense and chewy, but it was something. Just knowing that it was possible to make pasta by modifying the process so I could manage it, was incredibly satisfying. Then my next attempts involved a rolling pin and my husbands arms. That worked too. Better still, I was able to use the rolling pin, bit by bit, all by myself! Thank You God. How rewarding. 
Let's Make Pasta - Watch The Video Above

Original Illustration by Anita Berglund - Copyright 2014 - Not to be reproduced without permission

Wheelchair Accessibility and Transportation

Part one of our newest video is all about the basics of wheelchair accessible driving as the driver (my husband's perspective) and as a passenger seeking transportation without having to transfer out of her wheelchair (that is my perspective! Click here to watch Part One.

Before we were getting married, my husband to be's vehicle was not suitable for modifications that were needed to enable me to also get inside, to travel together. We began praying specifically and God, always knowing our needs, within a few weeks, voila! In our local Auto Trader magazine, was the vehicle we had been praying about. Our city isn't a huge one, so to find a fully modified wheelchair accessible van was truly a miraculous event for us. As you can see in the video, it has all the features we needed so Craig could drive.
It didn't originally look like it does now. The person who owned it before us, had this full size Ford F150 van, modified at an awesome place called, Sparrowhawk. Check it out.

If you have any questions or input, please email us at walkingwayoverrated@gmail.com
Enjoy the video!